Vocalo Storytellers

Ashton Mitchell 

Why did you want to become a Vocalo Storyteller?

I had reported for radio before on a news program ,but never had the opportunity to create a long form story that I could get really creative with. There are a lot of stories that daily news doesn’t get to tell because of time constraints, so I thought the workshop was a perfect way to produce a story in a deeper, more intimate way. Also I was so grateful to have the opportunity to work alongside and learn from professional radio journalists. Having them share their journalistic process and give me a crash course in the more technical side of audio production was a great learning experience.

Your piece in 20 seconds:

A non-for-profit, social service agency teams up with a renowned cooking school to help provide meals to the visually-impaired and blind. But one of the chef’s who is learning to cook through the program is visually impaired himself after losing his site later in his life during a holdup. What’s it like to cook blind and what does it say about the greater issues of the staggering unemployment rate of blind people?

Why did you decide to tell this story?

When I first went to the Chicago Lighthouse I didn’t know exactly what my story would be on. While interviewing Darren, an extern for the Sunlight Cafe, which is the Lighthouse’s cafeteria , he popped out his eye to illustrate how he lost his vision . That was the moment knew Darren was a great character who could act as a gateway bigger issue: Why the unemployment rate of people who are blind is so high.

In what ways are you a better storyteller and/or producer?

I think the biggest lesson I learned was to keep it simple. Add layers to your piece as you go instead of getting overwhelmed by over analyzing or thinking you have to be perfect. Also, following your instincts is really important. I went into my story not knowing exactly how it would end up and that turned out to be a wonderful thing because I allowed myself to adapt to the situation and go with my gut.

Rocio Santos

Why did you want to become a Vocalo Storyteller?
I had some experience working with sound but I wanted to learn more: become a better storyteller and learn about the work at a well-known public station. I also wanted to give it a shot creating a radio piece in English. All the pieces I have done have been in Spanish, so this was a challenge. But mainly, I wanted to produce an education story that I had in mind. I felt the need to talk about adult education and its impact.

Your piece in 20 seconds:
My story is about the Ramirez Luna family attending Proyecto Odisea. It’s a program not many people know about. It portrays the impact of Proyecto Odisea in the Ramirez Luna family and the importance of family in education.

Why did you decide to tell this story?
I’m a student at Proyecto Odisea. I have learned many more things from the family and other adults in the classroom than in my whole entire college life. It has been very rewarding and I felt the need to craft a story about adult education and its impact. I wanted to tell so much about it. I finally focused on the Ramirez Luna family because to me it was a shock and a lesson to continue my higher education after seeing this family there. Sometimes adult education and community empowerment is missing in the education debate.

In what ways are you a better storyteller and/or producer?
I’m way more organized when crafting a piece. I learned to take decisions for the best of my piece after getting advice from other radio producers. Thanks to Luis I learned that perfect is not always good. Thanks to Adriana I learned to be unafraid to experiment. I learned to visualize my audience and to make them part of my piece. Thank you Vocalo team! You taught me most than in any other radio training.

Maria Gaspar

Why did you want to become a Vocalo Storyteller?

My mother was in radio (90.5FM) during the 1980’s at the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, where I spent many weekends and weeknights listening to her shows about love, poetry, and women’s health. She learned radio skills through community classes, where she engaged in topics relative to Spanish-speaking communities. Since then, I have been enamored with radio, storytelling, and the sonic power of good radio production. Apart from this appreciation, I am an interdisciplinary artist from Little Village, Chicago and currently Adjunct faculty at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the University of Illinois at Chicago, so learning the powers of radio first-hand and working with the staff at Vocalo allowed me to explore the medium of radio, which was an extremely exciting opportunity for me.

Your piece in 20 seconds:

The Cook County Jail in Chicago, located at 26th and California in the Little Village Community, is estimated to hold about 10,000 detainees on any given day and 100,000 per year. As a native of Little Village, I was interested in producing a story that reflects on what it means to live next to one of the largest pre-detention facilities in the country and how the jail, at times, is both visible and invisible to the local community.

Why did you decide to tell this story?

I was born and raised in Little Village and have been long-interested in this site. A few of my friends and colleagues are working to develop a series of site-responsive art projects at the jail and this story was a way for me to begin my research and gather multiple perspectives in relation to the jail, ultimately, to prepare for the collective work that will soon begin. Upon interviewing residents, friends, and trusting strangers – I realized that the stories I gathered were important to the history and understanding of my community and I hope it allows for listeners to gain a new understanding of it through the gracious stories of my interviewees.

In what ways are you a better storyteller and/or producer?

Storytelling involves not only a good story, but also the art of good listening, good questioning, as well as pacing and timing (editing). For me, radio storytelling provides a potentially infinite sonic space for sharing in the stories that move us, challenge us, and affirm our own experiences. With the guidance of Vocalo staff and the accessible facilities at the station, I feel confident in continuing to use the powerful medium of radio for my work, with the understanding that the spirit of radio has the potential to be a space for transformation.

Grant Buhr

Why did you want to become a Vocalo Storyteller?

Improving the way we relate to one another is key to building/healing community. The more well-told stories that get a platform to be heard, the better we can relate to one another. I want to be a part of that. And for me personally, I love producing audio stories because it bonds me to the people that I work with during the process. The better I get at the process, the deeper those bonds will be.

Your piece in 20 seconds:

Helen Morley was a complex and unsung hero in a relatively unknown battle – the grassroots fight for mental health care. Her deficits were often her strengths, and she brought both agitation and inspiration to those around her. This is a glimpse of her story.

Why did you decide to tell this story? I was inspired to tell Helen’s story because it calls attention to the value that mental health care consumers found in the public clinics, and shines a light on the dangers of disturbing client-clinician relationships that can take years and build. It also raises an interesting human quandary - our deficits can serve us as strengths, and vice versa, depending on the situation. Helen’s story is one of someone who wasn’t dealt many cards, but who played her hand to its fullest.

In what ways are you a better storyteller and/or producer?

I think I understand how to better interact with interview subjects, both during the interview, and while editing the tape. I feel more comfortable and confident in my voice, and feel more empowered, and less overwhelmed, by the endless amount of decisions to be made.

Alexis Thompson

Why did you want to become a Vocalo Storyteller?
I thought this workshop would be a great way to learn a new skill. I had a radio internship last semester and have been very interested in experimenting with audio as a storytelling medium for a while now.

Your piece in 20 seconds:
At some point or another we’ve all known a person that’s really into shoes, but have you ever met a “sneakerhead”? My piece is an exploration of sneakerhead subculture and the definition of the word sneakerhead. I spoke with a handful of folks who consider themselves tried and true lovers of sneakers. Take a listen to what they have to say!

Why did you decide to tell this story?
A friend of mine told me about how he sold a five year old pair of Jordan’s for $100 more than he paid for them. That blew my mind—how could a used pair of sneakers be worth so much? I’ve always known people who are really into sneakers but never bothered to pick their brains about why they love the shoes so much. I thought it would be interesting to record the findings.

In what ways are you a better storyteller and/or producer?
Now I know the basics of editing audio. Interviewing and writing techniques for an audio piece can be significantly different than interviewing and writing for a written piece. Now I can do both!

Martha Razo

Why did you want to become a Vocalo Storyteller?
I wanted to obtain journalism experience. Also wanted to gain experience in radio so I can tell the stories of those in the neighborhoods whose voices are not heard.  This also allows me to share my work at Latinos Progresando with Teatro Americano.

Your piece in 20 seconds:
The piece initiates with a poem where I describe my frustration of what cultural forces expect from me and how I was forced to move out of my parent’s hose and become independent. The story line then follows the lives of three independent women who have been role models and a source of inspiration for me to continue my own footsteps and not give up even if I am confronted with numerous challenges.

Why did you decide to tell this story?
I wanted to first and foremost break some of the cultural ideas that women should stay at home. This audio shows that women like men can be independent and pursue their own path of life to pursue their happiness. I also wanted to hear how these women made it through struggles that many women like me face when trying to pursue their dreams.

In what ways are you a better storyteller and/or producer?
I have become comfortable with the computer software and able to manipulate it in such a way to tell a story that can come alive and the audience can live it.

Brenda Anzueta

Why did you want to become a Vocalo Storyteller?

Being a storyteller gives me the opportunity to give a voice to untold stories; it is a commitment because people are sharing with you their experiences and feelings.  I love that I can be hear and feel the stories and at the same time make it beautiful and share it with other people. 

Your piece in 20 seconds:
The piece is about Ivan Resendiz, he is a classical guitarist and founded the Latin American Guitar Festival. Ivan has a commitment of bringing classical music to the Latino community in Chicago

Why did you decide to tell this story?

Ivan Resendiz is a musician that I admire. His life story inspires me and encourages me to succeed in my life projects, and also because part of the Latino community has not had an approach to classical music and events. Some believe that classical music events are for the elite and expensive. But the festival has an approach to classical music  that is accessible to all.

In what ways are you a better storyteller and/or producer?

Vocalo has been a challenge for me… I needed to do everything in English!  This allowed me to grow my English, and I´m a bit more confident in it, and also this workshop made me think about how important it is be a good storyteller, made me explore my creativity, patience, and editing skills.

The recent partnership between the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts and the Sunlight Cafe in the Chicago Lighthouse, a non-for-profit, social services agency for the blind and visually impaired has allowed Darren LaVell Hardaway to get his hands-on training to graduate…the catch? Darren is almost completely blind.